title: Single dose darbepoetin alfa is useful in reducing red cell transfusions in leukemic children receiving chemotherapy.
abstract: The role of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in the management of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is becoming increasingly recognized in the field of medical oncology, with paucity of data in pediatrics. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a single-dose darbepoetin alfa, a long-acting ESA, given to 35 pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children during induction chemotherapy. Compared to a retrospective control group, the studied patients have required significantly less units of packed red blood cells (0.88 units/patient in the studied group versus 2.04 units in controls), with no major side effects. We recommend further prospective double-blinded studies with more tailored dosing regimens in pediatric ALL cases and solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital , Muscat , Oman.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zachariah
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elshinawy
authors.forename: Abdulhakim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alrawas
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elbeshlawi
authors.forename: Surekha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tony
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wali
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa
keywords: anemia; chemotherapy; darbepoetin alfa; leukemia